Metra to boost service as commuters return to offices

Metra yesterday announced a significant weekday service expansion on its UP Northwest Line and modifications to its UP North Line effective April 25.

The new weekday schedule for UP-Northwest will increase service by 21 trains to 66 total trains. The change will allow better connections with other UP lines, Metra officials said in a press release.

"We have said since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic that Metra is committed to adjusting its schedules to meet growing ridership and our riders’ changing needs," said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski. "We are greatly encouraged by the growth in ridership so far this year."

For UP-North, the schedule is being adjusted to add one morning departure and one evening departure to and from Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The new schedules also divide rush-period service into a three-zone pattern that will better balance passenger loads and allow the transit agency to improve express service to the stations furthest from Chicago, Metra officials said. The changes will better accommodate riders who take the train to work early shifts, with the first train arriving in downtown Chicago at 5:32 am.

However, the UP-North line will also experience a slight reduction in midday service due to construction projects so that the work window can be lengthened in single-track areas.